Claude Stokes

Colonel Claude Bayfield Stokes (27 October 1875 – 7 December 1948) was an Indian Army officer and diplomat. He served in India and was an intelligence officer with Dunsterforce during the First World War.

Stokes was educated at St John's School, Leatherhead and Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the East Kent Regiment on 28 September 1895 and served on the North West Frontier 1897–98. He transferred to the Indian Army 7 October 1897 and in July 1900 he joined the 3rd Skinner's Horse, a unit of the Indian Army. In 1908 he saved the life of Ali-Akbar Dehkhoda, the Iranian linguist and Hassan Taqizadeh (a subsequent President of Iran), when he allowed him to take refuge in the British Legation compound. He commanded the first detachment of the British Army to go to Baku arriving on 4 August 1918.

He retired from the Indian Army 1 October 1922.

From 1931 to 1940 he was British Vice consul in Nice, France.